Judge Curtis M. Fiorini

Judge Curtis M. Fiorini has served on the Sacramento County Superior Court since 2010, appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. His pre-bench career was rooted entirely in criminal prosecution: he served as a deputy district attorney for Stanislaus County beginning in 1997, returned briefly to private practice, then joined the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office in 2001 and remained there until his appointment. This means Judge Fiorini spent the bulk of his legal career as a criminal prosecutor before taking the bench, a background that directly shapes the types of matters he has handled as a judge. Judge Fiorini has presided over criminal matters including identity theft, weapons and drug charges, gang-related attempted murder preliminary hearings, sexual assault cases, and a south Sacramento murder case that resulted in a 50-to-life sentence. He has handled both trials and criminal writs calendars. Since 2011, he has taught evidence at Lincoln Law School, demonstrating sustained engagement with evidentiary doctrine beyond the courtroom. Because no analyzed rulings, attorney observations, or ingested content are available, no ruling pattern data or behavioral tendencies can be reported at this time. The profile data establishes his prosecutorial background, criminal docket focus, and academic engagement with evidence law — all of which are relevant context for attorneys preparing to appear before him.

Judge Fiorini's career was built in criminal prosecution across two district attorney's offices, and his docket reflects that specialization. Attorneys appearing before him in criminal matters should expect a judge with deep familiarity with prosecutorial strategy, charging decisions, and the mechanics of criminal procedure. Defense attorneys in particular should be precise and well-prepared on procedural and evidentiary arguments, as Judge Fiorini's background gives him a granular understanding of how cases are built by the prosecution. Judge Fiorini's ongoing role as an evidence instructor at Lincoln Law School since 2011 signals active, sustained engagement with evidentiary rules. Attorneys should ensure their evidentiary arguments are technically sound and grounded in the California Evidence Code. Sloppy or underprepared evidentiary presentations are unlikely to go unnoticed before a judge who teaches the subject. Because no ruling analyses or attorney observations are available, specific guidance on preferred argument styles, motion practice tendencies, or courtroom demeanor cannot be drawn from observed patterns. Attorneys should treat this profile as a foundation and supplement it with direct inquiry to colleagues who have appeared before Judge Fiorini in Sacramento County Superior Court.

• critical

  Review California Evidence Code Thoroughly

  Judge Fiorini teaches evidence at Lincoln Law School. Any evidentiary motion or objection should be grounded in specific statutory authority and case law. Superficial evidentiary arguments are a credibility risk before this judge.

• critical

  Research Sacramento County Criminal Docket Records

  No analyzed rulings are available in this profile. Attorneys should independently search Sacramento County Superior Court records for Judge Fiorini's recent criminal rulings to identify any discernible patterns in sentencing, motion practice, or preliminary hearing outcomes.

• important

  Prepare for a Prosecution-Experienced Bench in Criminal Matters

  Judge Fiorini's nine-plus years as a deputy district attorney mean he has direct experience constructing criminal cases. Defense attorneys should anticipate a judge who understands prosecutorial strategy and should prepare arguments that directly address the strength of the evidence rather than relying on procedural technicalities alone.

• important

  Identify Colleagues Who Have Appeared Before Judge Fiorini

  Given the absence of attorney observations in this profile, direct outreach to Sacramento-area criminal defense attorneys or prosecutors who have appeared before Judge Fiorini is the most reliable way to supplement this profile with behavioral and temperament data.

• Nice

  Review Applicable Criminal Writs Procedures

  Judge Fiorini has handled criminal writs calendars. Attorneys filing or opposing writs in criminal matters should ensure their papers comply with all procedural requirements and are substantively thorough.

• ›Ensure all evidentiary arguments cite specific California Evidence Code sections and supporting case authority — Judge Fiorini teaches evidence and will notice imprecision.
• ›Be fully prepared on criminal procedure; Judge Fiorini's prosecutorial background means procedural shortcuts or vague arguments about charging or discovery are unlikely to be persuasive.
• ›Treat preliminary hearings and criminal writs with the same level of preparation as trial — Judge Fiorini has presided over both and has experience across the full criminal calendar.
• ›Arrive prepared with organized, complete filings; his academic and prosecutorial background reflects a structured, detail-oriented professional profile.